Profiling Origins and Manifestations of Dental Fear and Anxiety in Children and Adolescents: A Content Analysis of YouTube Videos

Abstract

Fear and anxieties towards going to dentists are major problems for a sizeable proportion of children and adolescents. Dental fears were shown to be associated with dental health problems. Patient often associate the dental office as an unfriendly, offensive and anxiety- provoking environment, distinguished by loud noises, distinctive odors, bright lights, invasive contact in mouth and probability of pain. The aim of the present study is to know the origin and impact of Dental Fear and Anxiety in children and adolescents using YouTube as a platform. A content analysis was conducted to know the origin, manifestations and impact of dental fear and anxiety among children and adolescents by screening videos form YouTube using three keywords: ‘dental fear’, ‘dental anxiety’ and ‘dental phobia’. After inclusion and exclusion criteria total of 16 videos were transcribed. The themes derived after transcription for origin were 7 namely: Dental personal, dental instruments, injection, dental clinic set up, procedure, pain and influence. For maintenance themes were: crying, nervous behavior, whining, bad behavior, distraction and refusal and impacts were: refusal to open mouth, refusal and relief. Social media and internet are platforms to understand and tackle dental fear and anxiety from a lay person’s point of view.